Textile carding machine



March 12, 1946. E. c. GWALTNEY ETAL TEXTILE CARDING MACHINE Filed March1, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March E. c. GWALTNEY EI'AL 2,396,571

TEXTILE CARD ING MACHINE March 1945' E. c. GWALTNEY ET AL 1 2,396,571

TEXTILE CARDING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 12, EQ GWALTNEY ET AL TEXTILE CARDING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1943 4Sheets-Sheet 4 "a; I R m Patented M... 12, 1946 UNiTED STATES PATENTOFFICE TEXTILE CARDING MACHINE Maine Application March 1, 1943, SerialNo. 477,522

4 Claims.

This invention relates to machines of the type used in the textileindustry to work textile fibers into the form of a fleece or sliver.Such machines are customarily referred to as carding machines or cards.The two principal forms of machines of this type in common use are theso-called roller or wool card and the revolving flat or cotton card.Each of these types has advantages and disadvantages peculiar to itself.The revolving flat card is far superior to the roller card in handlingcotton fibers, chiefly because cotton carries with it a considerableamount of dirt and foreign material which the revolving flat cardremoves with a high degree of effectiveness. On the other hand, it isnot nearl as good as is the roller card on wool and fibers of the longertypes. It tends to break up such fibers and when cotton and wool aremixed it produces a considerable degree of separation of the wool fibersfrom the cotton fibers, removing enough of the former from the mixtureto make it very diflicult to control the proportions of the fibers inthe final product delivered by the machine.

A further difficulty encountered in attempting to use roller cards inoperating on cotton and other short fibers, is that of controlling thelint or fly. If a cover is placed over the entire assembly of worker andstripper rolls in an endeavor to accomplish this result, it is foundthat fly accumulates in some localized areas from which it subsequentlyis discharged in bunches, thus introducing highly objectionablevariations in the sliver and, consequently, in the yarn produced fromit. in some cases, also, the fly works into the bearings of the rollswhere ultimately it will produce a jam unless such accumulations areremoved at frequent intervals.

The present invention has for its chief object to devise a machinebetter adapted for handling mixtures of cotton and rayon with eachother, and of either of them with wool, flax, silk, or other fibers,which will avoid the objections encountered in running such mixtures ineither of the older types of machines. It is also an object of thisinvention to devise a mechanism which can readily be applied to thecommon commercial forms of cotton cards to enable them to handlemixtures of the character just mentioned satisfactorily.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from thefollowing description when read in connection with 'the accompanyingdrawings, and the novel features will be particularl pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of those parts of a. carding machine withwhich the present invention is more especially concerned, illustratingthe preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cover for one pair of worker and stripperrolls and the parts immediately associated with them, a portion of thecover being shown broken away.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the structure there illustrated consistsmainly of a cotton carding machine of a common commercial type includinga cylinder 2, and the usual licker-in 3 and dofier cylinder 4 associatedtherewith in the customary manner. The revolving flats, however, havebeen removed, and in their stead three pairs of worker and stripperrolls are mounted in cooperative relationship to the cylinder.Considering the right-hand pair shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen thatthe worker roll is shown at 5 and the stripper roll at 6. In order tosupport the worker roll, the bearing for one end of the shaft 1 for thatroll is supported in the open upper end of a stand 8, Figs. 1 and 3,which is secured partly to the arch 9 of the machine frame by a bolt l0passing through a slot in the shank portion of the stand and threadedinto the arch. It is also held in place partly by a screw-threaded studI2 passing through the flange [3 of the arch 9 andhaving nuts threadedon to it at opposite sides of said flange. The opposite end of the shaftis similarly supported and, consequently, the entire roll 5 can beadjusted readily and very accuratel toward and from the cylinder 2. Ahold-down clamp l4, best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, releasably locks theroll bearing to the stand 8.

The stripper roll shaft I5 is similarly supported in the open upper endof another stand or bracket 16, much like that shown at 8, but mountedon an arm I! extending laterally from the stand 8 and integraltherewith. A bolt l8, best shown in Fig. 2, passes through a slot in thebracket, is anchored securely in the arm l1, and has a nut threadedthereon by mean of which this bracket may be secured rigidly to saidarm. Also, another bolt 20 is supported for rotation in the inwardlyextending flange a of the bracket but is held against longitudinalmovement relatively thereto, while its upper end is threaded into theflange of the arm I! and is thus operable in connection with asimilarconstructionat the opposite end of the frame to adjust thestripper roll 3 toward and from the card cylinder 2. This adjustment ismade independently of the corresponding-am justment of the roll I, andtherefore is an adrangement, therefore, simplifie both the constructionand also theoperation of the adjusting mechanism. The roll I 5 isnormally locked in its brackets by hold-downs similar-to thoseassociated with the worker roll.

In addition to the two adjustments just referred to, it is alsoimportant to be able to adjust the spacing between the worker and itsstripper. I For this purpose the arm I! is provided with a lug 22, Figs.2 and 3, projecting toward the bracket l3, and two'screws 23-23 arethreaded through ears extending inwardly from opposite sides of thebracket, the ends of these screws bearing against the opposite sides ofthe lug just referred to. Consequently, by backing up one of thesescrews and turning in the other, and performing similar operations onthe corresponding parts at the opposite end of the machine frame,

the entire stripper roll may be adjusted toward and from its cooperatingworker roll. The fit of the bolts l3 and in the respective holes wherethey pass through the bracket I6 is made sufficiently free to permitthis adjustment.

The other worker and stripper rolls are mounted in the same manner asare the rolls just described, and the corresponding parts are designatedby the same numerals.

The particular driving arrangement shown for the worker rolls comprisesa stub shaft 24, Fig. l, on which is mounted a sprocket wheel 25 drivenby belt and pulley connections with the cylinder shaft. This sprocketdrives a chain 26 which runs over the entire series of sprocket wheels26 mounted on the respective worker roll shafts and drives them all inunison. At the opposite side of the machine from the sprocket 25 isanother stub shaft, in line with the stud or stub shaft 24, and agrooved pulley 2'! is mounted on this stud and is also driven by beltand pulley connections with the cylinder shaft. This grooved pulleydrives a V-belt 28 which, in turn, drives similar pulleys 28' on therespective stripper roll shafts, the belt also running over an idlerpulley 30, Fig. l, to give it a greater warp around the pulleys atopposite sides of it.

As above indicated, a serious difiiculty in carding short fibers, suchas cotton, in a roller type card, is that of controlling the lint andfly, preventing it from accumulating in places where it subsequentlywill be discharged in bunches and from gathering around the bearingswhere it introduces operating difiiculties. The present invention solvesthis problem by enclosing the greater part of the peripheral surface ofthe cylinder between the licker-in and the doffer so closely in a casingas to substantially eliminate dead air and eddy current spaces in whichlint and fly can collect. This casing includes a section individual toeach pair of worker and stripper rolls. As best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and4, the casing for the middle set of rolls comprises a lower section,indicated in general at A in Fig. 3, and an upper section B hinged tothe lower section at 3|, the entire casing being split along a diagonalplane 0 passing through the axes of the two shafts I and It, as clearlyshown in said figure. The meeting edges of the two end members of thecasing at opposite sides of the machine are curved to fit snugly aroundthe bearings for the respective shafts, the lower end plates of thecasing being indicated at 32 and 32' and the upper plates at 33 and 33'.Sheet metal cover sections 34 and 35 are screwed to the edges of thelower casing plates and another sheet metal section 36 is similarlysecured to the edges of the upper end plates 33 and 33'. Knobs 31 and31' are fastened in opposite sides of the upper cover section tofacilitate the matter of opening the cover by swinging it in an upwarddirection around the hinge 3|. As this action proceeds, a

gravity stop 38, pivoted at 35 on the cover plate 33, swings backwardlyand engages the portion of the cylinder casing immediately adjacent tothe worker roll with which it is associated and arrests the swingingmovement of the cover at a predetermined point, thu preventing thiscover fromdropping back by gravity against some adjacent part of themachine. The front edge of the cover 36 slides in behind a plate 40,Fig. 3,

which serves to close the joint between that edge and the correspondingedge of the part 33 of the lower cover against which the forward edge ofthe swinging cover abuts when in its closed position.

Associated with these cover sections that extend across the uppersurface of the cylinder are make-up pieces 4l42, Fig. 3, and fillets 43which together close the joint between the covers or casings for theworker and stripper rolls and the intermediate sections 44 of the coverplate for the peripheral surface of the cylinder.

In order to provide for the adjustment of the spacing between the workerand stripper rolls, as above described, while at the same timemaintaining the casing in a sufficiently tight condition to preventtroublesome air leakage and the creation of objectionable eddy currents,the end plates 33 and 33' are provided with over-sized holes, as shownin Fig. 2, through which shrouds or sleeves D and D, Fig. 2, project,these shrouds being supported bythe bearing bushings for the roll shaftsl5. Projecting radially from these sleeves or shrouds, and integral withthem, are flanges 45-45, Figs. 2 and 4, which lie close to, andparallelwith, the inner surfaces of the respective end plates 33-33. The flanges45 and 45 and similar flanges 46 and 46', Figs. 3 and 4, secured to theshaft bearings for the worker roll 5, are adjustable axially so as tomake a close joint with the ends of the rolls. They overlap each otheralong a diagonal line forming a joint indicated at 48 and 48', Figs. 3and 4. The same construction is provided at the opposite side of themachine. This arrangement permits the adjustment above referred to whilestill providing a casing that is sufiiciently tight for practicalpurposes. Set screws 41 are provided to secure the shrouds in theiradjusted positions.

It will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 4 that the shroudshave short cylindrical portions set into, or telescoped in, the ends ofthe worker and stripper rolls. Such a construction contributesmaterially to the production of the tight joints just referred to. Itshould also be noted that the clothing on the main cylinder 2 isslightly wider (in an axial direction) than is that of the worker roll5, the latter roll, however, being wider than the area of the cylindercarrying most of the fiber. Similarly, that th stripper clothing isslightly wider in an axial irection than that of the worker roll withwhich it cooperates, but narrower than the cylinder clothing. Thisarrangement has been found highly effective in controlling loose fibersor fiy because the stripper operates on the entire fiber-carryingsurface of the worker roll and takes stock from it. The cylinderclothing, being wider than that of the stripper, removes fiber from theentire surface of the latter. Thus there is a progressive cleaningaction of the workers and strippers which is very important inmaintaining the machine continuously in an efficient condition, reducingto a minimum the number of stripping operations required on the workerand stripper rolls, and with the tight joints, substantially eliminatingthe opportunity for the troublesome collection of lint and fly aroundthe workers and strippers.

Preferably a relatively uniform clearance of substantial dimensions, sayin the neighborhood of three-quarters of an inch, is provided betweenthe peripheral surface of each roll and thefadjacent surface of thecasing enclosing it. In this connection it may also be noted that whilethe surfaces of these rolls are shown as covered with card clothing,that is not always the practice, since it is frequently preferable touse the sawtooth type of clothing on them. The particular type selectednecessarily will depend upon the preferences of individual operators andthe character of the fiber being operated upon.

In those figures showing supporting parts for the rolls at the side ofthe frame opposite to that illustrated in Fig. 1, the partscorresponding to those shown in said figure are indicated by the same,but primed, numerals.

By providing individual covers for the respective pairs of worker andstripper rolls, we have found that the difllculties heretoforeexperienced with accumulations of fiy and lint are definitely avoided.In addition, the mounting of the worker and stripper rolls, as abovedescribed, with the bracket for one roll supported on the stand for theother, facilitates the operations of assembling the parts on the frameof the machine and adjusting the two rolls properly with reference tothe cylinder and one relatively to the other. This is particularly truein changing over a cotton card of the more popular commercial forms byremoving the revolving flats and substituting revolving workers forthem. At the same time the matter of adjusting the rolls with the highdegree of precision required in machines of this type is made relativelyeasy.

While we have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of ourinvention, it will be evident that the invention may be embodied inother forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. I

Having thus described our invention, what w desire to claim as new is:

1. In a textile carding machine, the combination with a card cylinder, aworker roll cooperating therewith. a stripper roll operativelyassociated with both said worker roll and said cylinder and a frame inwhich said cylinder is mounted. of supports at opposite sides of saidframe in spective casings serving to prevent any substantial air leakageinto the casing at the roll ends, and the stripper roll clothing beingwider than that of the worker roll but narrower than that of thecylinder.

2. In a textile carding machine, the combination with a card cylinder, aworker roll cooperating therewith, a stripper roll operativelyassociated with both said worker roll and said cylinder and a frame inwhich said cylinder is mounted, of supports at opposite sides of saidframe in which the bearings for said worker and stripper roll shafts aremounted, a casing individual to said worker and stripper roll assemblyand closely enclosing them, sleeves encircling the respective bearingsfor said roll shafts and supported on said respective bearings, saidsleeves having flanges integral therewith and positioned parallel withand close to the inside end walls of said casing.

- said sleeves being adjustable axially on said roll shafts and havingparts making close fitting joints with the ends of the respective rolls.

3. In a textile carding machine, the combination with a card cylinder, aworker roll cooperating therewith, a stripper roll operativelyassociated with both said worker roll and said cylinder and a frame inwhich said cylinder is mounted, of supports at opposite sides of saidframe in which the bearings for said worker and stripper roll shafts aremounted, a casing individual to said worker and stripper roll assemblyand enclosing them so closely as to substantially eliminate dead air andeddy current spaces in which lint and fiy can collect, the ends of saidworker and stripper rolls having telescoped connections with stationaryparts at the opposite ends of the respective casings which prevent anysubstantial leakage of air around said roll ends.

4. In a textile carding machine, the combination with a card cylinder, aworker roll cooperating therewith, a stripper roll operativelyassociated with both said worker roll and said cylinder and a frame inwhich said cylinder is mounted, or supports at opposite sides of saidframe in which the bearings for said worker and stripper roll shafts aremounted, said supports includin roll stands each having an arm rigidtherewith and projecting laterally therefrom, two brackets mounted,respectively, on said arms, one of said rolls being supported on saidstands and the other on said brackets, means cooperating with saidbrackets and said arms for adjusting the brackets with reference to thearms, a casing individual to said worker and stripper roll assembly andclosely enclosing them, the ends of the worker and stripper rolls havingtelescoped connections with stationary parts at the opposite ends of therespective casings serving to prevent any substantial air leakage intothe casing at the roll ends. EUGENE C. GWALTNEY. HERBERT E. CHILD.

